Walmart slashed a few dozen jobs at corporate headquarters in addition to making several promotions as it continues to realign resources around new areas of focus, namely e-commerce.

The company has cut a few dozen jobs, according to Talk Business & Politics. An undisclosed number of promotions have also been awarded, largely in merchandising, according to Retail Dive.

Todays cuts are on top of roughly a 1,000 job cuts last year and 500 in replenishment roles since the end of January (the beginning of Walmart’s new fiscal year), according to TB&P. It’s all part of a larger realignment as the company allocates resources to support new initiatives including e-commerce and store intiatives.

“As we said in January, we’re continuing to look at how the company is structured, which includes investing in and adding jobs in some areas and eliminating some in a few others,” Walmart spokesperson Randy Hargrove told Retail Dive . “This is all about aligning and creating efficiencies as we change how we work to seamlessly serve our customer through our stores and e-commerce.”

In January, Walmart said it would add some 10,000 jobs through new store openings for its Walmart and Sam’s Club divisions, a move that flies in the face of a common narrative today: that retail associates jobs are a new endangered species.

In all, close to 60,000 retail jobs have been lost in 2017, most from department and apparel stores. But Walmart’s cuts are strategic, rather than a reaction to declining sales. The company is locked in battle with Amazon for retail dominance, trying to win the hearts, minds and disposable income of consumers.

Matthew McMahon begins a jog, practicing for his triathlon in August, in his neighborhood in Woodstock recently. In 2014, McMahon was diagnosed with bone cancer. This not only required intensive treatment, but also the amputation of his right leg from the knee down. McMahon, who is in remission, wears a prosthesis. On June 25, McMahon, who competed in his first post-diagnosis triathlon last August, will serve as emcee for the seventh annual PT Solutions Allatoona Triathlon. Proceeds will benefit the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. CHAD RHYM / CHAD.RHYM@AJC.COM

A cancer diagnosis can be crushing for a person of any age, but Matthew McMahon, an avid athlete, learned he had the disease when he was only 11 years old.

In the moments after the doctor delivered the news, McMahon remembers almost blacking out. He felt weak all over and started seeing spots as his mind tried to make sense of this new, jarring reality.

But, regaining control, the boy vowed to not let a thing like this slow him down. In the months and years following his diagnosis — and partial amputation of one of his legs — he would resume playing basketball and soccer. And he’d even pick up a new sport or two along the way.

Matthew McMahon proudly poses next to his triathlon bike in front of his Woodstock home recently. In 2014, Matthew McMahon was diagnosed with bone cancer. This not only required intensive treatment, but also the amputation of his right leg from the knee down. However, McMahon, who wears a prosthesis, didn’t give up being an athlete. CHAD RHYM / CHAD.RHYM@AJC.COM For the AJC

Now 14 years old and a freshman at River Ridge High School in Woodstock, McMahon still loves to play sports. He lives with his family in Woodstock, including his mom, Kerri, his dad, Chris, and his sister, Madison, 10.

A desire to help raise money for childhood cancer research has also led him to get involved with the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research — a local organization that empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease.

On June 25, McMahon will serve as emcee for the seventh annual PT Solutions Allatoona Triathlon, which is a USA Triathlon sanctioned event. Proceeds will benefit the Rally Foundation. And the event is right up his alley.

Being a “Rally Kid” and having competed in his first post-diagnosis triathlon last August, he’s excited about being one of the announcers at this race as well as handing out medals following the event.

One of the biggest adjustments for Matthew McMahon, 14, after his cancer treatment was the conversion to relearn how to ride his bike after the partial amputation of his right leg. CHAD RHYM / CHAD.RHYM@AJC.COM For the AJC

Rally Kids are spokespersons for the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. According to the organization’s website, they “inspire us to keep working hard toward better treatments and cures.”

A spokesperson for PT Solutions — the physical therapy company hosting the triathlon — said the Rally Foundation was a worthy cause.

“Working with Rally, we see a lot of cancer patients at our clinic, so we wanted to help and give back to this foundation,” said Megan Golden, digital marketing coordinator with PT Solutions.

The race begins at Dallas Landing Park. Racers splash through the lake on a 500-meter swim, emerge from the water for a 16-mile bike race and head back to the park for a 5K run, ending in downtown Acworth.

Golden said McMahon was a “natural fit” as the event’s emcee.

“He’s a triathlete himself, so he knows what it’s like to swim and bike and run in a race,” Golden said. “He’s all around awesome. … Matthew is unstoppable, and we just love that. We love his spirit when it comes to competition.”

After working on biking and running, Matthew McMahon perfects his freestyle stroke in his neighborhood pool to prepare for a triathlon this August. McMahon takes off his prosthetic leg before engaging in the aquatic sport. On June 25, McMahon, who competed in his first post-cancer diagnosis triathlon last August, will serve as emcee for the seventh annual PT Solutions Allatoona Triathlon. Proceeds will benefit the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. CHAD RHYM/ CHAD.RHYM@AJC.COM For the AJC

Competition is what’s kept him going throughout diagnosis, partial amputation of his right leg and, now, remission.

“I really love sports, and I love competition,” McMahon said. “I think that’s what drove me, was to keep playing sports with my friends and keep up with them and maybe even be better than them.”

Matthew McMahon (second from left), who has fought cancer, sits in the family living room in Woodstock with (from left) his mother, Kerri, his sister, Madison, and his father, Chris. “He never once said ‘why me?’” Kerri McMahon said. “He just took it head on. He’s had bad days, but his main focus has always been getting back out there with his friends and playing sports again.” CHAD RHYM / CHAD.RHYM@AJC.COM For the AJC

Keeping up with his friends meant McMahon had to be cautious, too. The procedure he’d undergone in May 2014, which involved partial amputation and a procedure known as rotationplasty, meant he had to pace himself.

Rotationplasty, McMahon explained, is a procedure in which a surgeon removes the knee “and takes the bottom of your tibia and fibula in your foot and turns it 180 degrees, and pulls it up and attaches it to your femur, so that your ankle is now your secondary functioning knee.”

The other options McMahon had — limb salvage (knee replacement) or full amputation — wouldn’t have allowed him to continue playing contact sports as easily, said his mom, Kerri McMahon.

ake some time and think about human spirit. We as human beings are capable of seriously incredible things.

I always am so inspired when the Olympics roll around and we watch athletes from around the world compete for their countries. It’s the spirit, the drive and the dedication to their career that amazes me.

The accomplishments they achieve are truly great. What does that say about human spirit? Stop and realize what we are capable of when fully committed to ONE goal. When we decide that we really want something in life, we are capable of extraordinary things.

A professional athlete decides to pursue a career and go after the ultimate honour of being an Olympic champion – just like you decide to chase your dream of being a business owner. What if you trained in your business, like they do for the Olympics?

Would you get up earlier? Would you hire a coach? Would you concentrate on your mindset?

Whether it’s business, or athletics – it requires the same types of discipline and the same approach.

The most recent Summer Olympics, there were three Olympic athletes that really stood out for me.

Kathleen Baker. She won a silver medal for swimming and I have so much appreciation for her because she has Crohn’s disease. Crohn’s disease is the perfect excuse not to get in the pool and strive to be an Olympian. It is the perfect excuse to stay under the covers at home because your stomach hurts and not to live fully on so many levels. Despite those potential excuses, this young woman now has an Olympic medal because she has chosen to not let her debilitating illness get in the way of what she really wanted. As an entrepreneur, what excuses are you making that’s stopping you from getting in that pool and pushing for what you want? Do you love what you do? Pay attention to your mindset!

Usain Bolt. He is a three-time gold medal winner. What is amazing about Usain is that while he is running, he’s smiling. He is the fastest guy out there and he is smiling mid-race. Why is that? Is it because he loves what he does, or is it his mindset?

Simone Manuel. She is the first African-American to win a gold medal for swimming. I see this woman win, I see the tears and I read the background. She has just defied the odds. If you’ve ever been told you couldn’t do something in your life or in your business because of your economic background, or because of where you live, you need to read Simone’s story. You can do anything, you can achieve greatness in your business despite what anyone says.

How can you take the lessons from Olympic athletes, and apply it to your business?

I believe there are three things that need to be applied as heavily in business as they are in professional athletics.

Habits

Do you think Usain Bolt has ever run before? He takes impeccable care of his body on a regular basis – he exercises, eats well and is focused on what matters the most to him. Those are habits, things that become second nature when you do them enough. Creating small positive habits can leave a huge impact on your long-term success.

Rituals

Many athletes have a pre-competition ritual. Things they do over and over to prepare themselves for the competition. They train their mind with specific rituals that help them perform to the best of their ability. What ritual do you practice on a regular basis? Things like looking at your numbers every week, marketing your business on a regular basis, finding ways to exceed your customer’s expectations, and figuring out systems and ways to build your business.

Mindset

Your mindset is crucial for success. You need mental toughness in everything that you do if you want to build a world-class business. If you want entrepreneurial freedom, you need to cultivate strong habits and rituals that you can action in your business every single day.

These athletes are committed to the end result, they know what they want and what they’re trying to accomplish.

Do you KNOW what you want in your business? When you are confident in what you are trying to accomplish, your habits, your rituals, and your mindset are aligned with making that happen.

Done is better than perfect, and taking #action is better than just thinking about it.

Look at Erica Graham. She is an incredibly talented figure skater. She is so young that she isn’t able to compete in the Olympics until 2022. When I look at a young girl like her and see the dedication that it takes to become a champion figure skater… I feel like I’m being a slacker in my business.

If I were as dedicated, disciplined, and worked as hard as Erica Graham does, I’d be running a multikazillion-dollar business.

Something else that all of the Olympic athletes have in common is this: they all have a coach.

Every single one of the athletes hires a coach because they understand that they need help learning the techniques and skills required to achieve greatness. Not only do they hire a coach for the athletics but they also hire coaches to help them with mindset and motivation. They need someone to push them physically and mentally.

Why is business any different?

Invest in yourself to do better. Start to build some muscle around your character and your capacity to cultivate good habits and rituals on a daily basis.

There’s not one successful business person that I know that didn’t have to put in the time and hard work. They all had to cultivate the habits. They all had to work on their mindsets. If you decide to do those things, you become unstoppable.

Play Capoeira — Woods Memorial Public Library, 3455 N. First Ave. A martial/dance art that uses flowing, acrobatic moves and has a rich cultural heritage. Ages 4 and up. Tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before event. 3-4 p.m. June 27. 594-5445.

Texas is seeking permission from the federal government for the return of federal family planning money it lost four years ago. It lost those Medicaid funds after it excluded Planned Parenthood and other clinics affiliated with abortion providers from the state’s women’s health program. If President Trump’s administration agrees, Texas could serve as an example to other states wishing to defund Planned Parenthood clinics.

In 2011, the Republican-dominated Texas legislature signaled its intention to end Planned Parenthood’s participation in what was then known as the Medicaid waiver program serving the state’s low-income women. Ninety percent of the program’s funding came from the federal government. But the Obama administration opposed Texas’ plan because Federal law requires states to fund “any willing provider.” This is to keep states from discriminating against health care providers for ideological, racial or religious reasons.

Texas decided to forgo federal funding so it could exclude Planned Parenthood from the list of providers from which women could choose to get health care. Texas then created a state program, now known as Healthy Texas Women, and Planned Parenthood is not allowed to participate. The tens of millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funding that it lost each year was the price Texas had to pay for sticking to its guns.

But now that Trump is calling the shots, Texas wants that federal money back — while still being allowed to bar Planned Parenthood. And Texas may well have a good chance. The president recently appointed anti-abortion proponents to oversee the nation’s family planning programs. If Texas is successful, abortion rights advocates worry that the state will pave the way for other Republican dominated states to set up similar exclusions, and not have to suffer the financial penalties Texas endured to boot.

Carrie Williams, spokeswoman for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission told The New York Times, “This is a new administration and we’re looking at what funding opportunities may exist for us.”

The prospect has health care advocates worried. Dr. Georges Benjamin is the executive director of the American Public Health Association. He says it’s already forbidden to use federal dollars to fund abortions, but if Texas gets its waiver, abortion rights proponents across the country would be supporting Texas’ program through their tax dollars.

“I don’t want my federal dollars used for discriminatory practices,” Benjamin says. “You’re now forcing other states, and other people who may have a different view on this issue to pay for the discriminatory practices that the state of Texas is trying to have, which will ultimately result in poorer health outcome for women.”

Benjamin says one of the main arguments for the Hyde Amendment, which prohibited federal funding for abortions in 1977, was that forcing anti-abortion proponents to fund abortion providers was an undemocratic violation of their deeply held religious beliefs. Providing Texas a waiver to receive federal Medicaid funds while excluding Planned Parenthood turns that argument on its head, he says. Abortion proponents across the country would have to see their tax dollars used to fund a Texas program that discriminates against abortion providers.

In its waiver application, Texas made the case for increased federal funding by pointing out it has the highest rate of pregnancy in the nation, one of the highest teen pregnancy rates and that fully a third of the women who get pregnant in the state do so unintentionally.